Adding Dextrose A Week Later

[Frag_Dog]

I've been reading this forum for a while. Lots of great information which has given me a good start!

Anyway, I'm on my 4th brew (just kit and kilo, nothing that fancy) and I've forgot to add 300g of dextrose. I'm making what is said to be a Hahn Superdry clone and I missed out of the dextrose. I'm not too worried if it doesn't come out tasting much like SuperDry, just something drinkable.

Can I add the dextrose now, 1 week into fermentation? The fermention appears to have stopped (no airlock action). I have no problem leaving it for another week or 2 if I add the dextrose and 'save' the beer.

Will not adding the dextrose affect the beer to a large degree? I understand it will have a lower alcholo content but is that it?

 

[Rodolphe01]

My understanding is that dextrose adds nothing but alcohol, no contribution to body etc. So basically it will just have less alcohol.

I don't see a problem with adding the dex now, just boil it up with some water to dissolve and sanitise it and pour it in, should ferment off pretty quick being only 300g.

 

[whitegoose]

Just boil it up and wack it in.

Once I made up a batch of 28L with ingredients that were meant to make 23L... I only realised after taking a gravity reading after fermentation had completed... I just boiled up some dextrose, poured it in and gently stirred it in to the fermenter. It started bubbling again that night and a month later I had some delicious beer.

 

[Bribie G]

When making UK style bitters I add dextrose according to the style, for example 17% when doing a Burton style ale like Marstons Pedigree. Because I cube (no chill) I don't add the dex to the original wort and recently have been putting it in after about 4 days at the time I dry hop. No particular reason for this, it works ok and no problems so far.

 

[buttersd70]

Frag dog, just as a matter of interest, bottle one (or even 2) as-is, to compare it in a couple of months with the one with the dex .

Then boil the dex, add it in. you might need to give the fermenter a gentle stir (you may not).

 

[pint of lager]

If you do decide to add the extra dextrose, make sure you dissolve it in some water. You can do a gentle simmer like already mentioned, or use some boiled and cooled water.

Do not add the dextrose to the brew as a dry powder. It will volcano due to the dissolved carbon dioxide in the brew.

300 gms is just going to add a bit more alcohol. Being a brew with dry enzyme (I assume it is using a dry enzyme being a dry kit) there will already be extra simple sugars and extra alcohol thanks to the enzyme action.

Make sure when using a dry enzyme, give the brew an extra 5 days in the fermenter, the enzymes tend to take longer to work.

 

[pmolou]

its common top add sugars later in fermentation especially when doing belgian beers, it apparently makes them drier or better or something haha

 

[Frag_Dog]

Thanks for the replies.

I added the Dex with a little under a litre of boiled water (cooled of course). So I'll see how I go.

Butters,

I did not bottle one seperatly, mainly because I'm lazy.....